Alan Shearer has backed Sunderland and branded Chelsea’s reported Granit Xhaka bid “embarrassing”.
Alan Shearer has backed Sunderland’s stance on Granit Xhaka and branded Chelsea’s reported opening bid for the midfielder “embarrassing”.
Xhaka has been at the centre of major transfer speculation in recent days, with Chelsea reportedly keen to reunite the Sunderland captain with Xabi Alonso. The Echo understands Sunderland would not welcome any offers for Xhaka at this stage and consider the player not for sale.
The Black Cats are under no pressure to sell, with Xhaka under contract until 2028 after joining from Bayer Leverkusen last summer. Reports have claimed Chelsea have tested the water with an offer significantly below the £17million Sunderland paid for the midfielder.
“Sunderland bought Granit Xhaka for £17m and he was one of the best players in this Premier League last season,” Shearer told The Metro. “He wasn’t just one of the best players at Sunderland, but in the Premier League. And Chelsea think they can come in and offer less than half of what they bought him for and think that’s acceptable?
“I mean, that’s bizarre to me. I understand that he might want to go, but if he wants to go and clearly his agent has done some talking to Chelsea, then I mean it’s a pretty embarrassing bid when a year earlier he cost £17m and he’s been one of the best players in the league. It’s embarrassing from Chelsea, really. I mean, they’re clearly not getting him for that amount. Why would you sell a player for less than half that he cost when he’s been one of the best players? I mean, it’s ridiculous.”
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